Distributing system



Nov. 22,1935 R, D. TUTT ,724,320

DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 51, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l awe/WM RICHARD D 707"?" Mlf @4446 ATTOR N EYB Nov. 22, 1955 R. D. TUTT DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 51. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet United States Patent DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Richard D. Tutt, New Britain, Conn., assignor to Tuttle & Bailey, Incorporated, New Britain, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application August 31, 1950, Serial No. 182,446

17 Claims. (CI. 9838) The present invention relates generally to air distributing systems, and more particularly to means for releasing a flow of air or other gas into a room or other enclosure which is characterized by relatively silent operation and the ability to disperse air or other gases at relatively high temperature and pressure differentials without materially increasing the noise level of the enclosure.

The present invention has particular utility in the field of air conditioning and distributing and it is particularly advantageous for permitting the distribution of air under relatively high pressures. The use of high pressure air is desirable in an air distributing system because it permits the use of smaller ductwork and may also eliminate the need for return ductwork in some cases. However, the use'of high pressure air is normally disadvantageous because it renders the system noisy in operation and creates many difficulties from the standpoint of damping and effective dispersion of the air into a room or other enclosure in accordance with accepted standards.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide means for handling high pressure air which will permit the use of such high pressure air in air conditioning and distributing systems without a material increase in the noise level of the room supplied with the air and which will permit the dispersion of the air into a room with maximum induction of room air thereby permitting the use of primary air at increased temperature differentials and the production of an air flow having throw and drop characteristics within acceptable limits.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of the outlet portion of a unit embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 showing a modified form of the diifuser section of the unit.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 2 thereof, the unit of the present invention is composed of two sections referred to herein as the silencing section A and the diffuser section B. The silencing section A is adapted to receive air under relatively high pressure and to release the air to the diffuser section B after absorbing and attenuating the sound carried thereby so that the overall operation of the system will not materially raise the noise level of the room into which the air is to be dispersed. The diffuser section B is particularly designed to handle high pressure air which may be introduced at a very great temperature differential with respect to room air and to release it into a room in such manner that a very high proportion of room air is inducted and mixed therewith, thereby overcoming the excessive temperature dilferential of the primary air and whereby the throw and drop of the mixed room air and primary air released from the diffuser section B is kept within acceptable limits.

The construction and operation of the silencing section A is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. Referring to these figures, it is preferred to introduce the air through a built in damper assembly 10 at one end of the sound attenuator and absorber generally denoted at 20, the assembly 16 having an inlet collar 11 for connection to a supply duct (not shown) in the usual manner. The details of constructionof the damper assembly 10 are not part of the present invention and are described and claimed in a co-pending application of Nelson M. Payne, Serial No. 177,859, filed August 5, 1950. In general, the

damper assembly 10 comprises a generally teardrop shaped housing 12 containing internally disposed dampers 13 which are movable axially of the housing such as by turning a suitable control rod 14. The damper assembly it) is characterized by the ability to form a tight seal against high pressure air when desired and also the ability to provide a variable passageway for the flow of air therethrough which will not produce noise even when the opening is very small.

The sound attenuator and absorber comprises a generally rectangular and elongated box-like housing 21 which may be formed of suitable sheet metal. Extending longitudinally within the housing 21 is a channel 22 of gradually expanding cross section formed with oppositely inclined elongated rectangular top and bottom plates 23 and 24, respectively, which are substantially equal in width to that of the interior of the housing 21 and are joined to the side walls 25 and 26 of the housing. As a result, the channel 22 is of uniform width throughout but of varying height which increases from a minimum at the end adjacent the damper assembly 10 for connection therewith to the'maximum permitted by the opposite end of the housing 21.

In accordance with the invention, the side plates 25 and 26 are covered with acoustically pervious sound absorbing material 27 such as cellulose materials, asbestos, etc. The top and bottom plates 23 and 24 are not so covered, but are formed with small perforations 28 of the order of /8 diameter and spaced approximately 1" apart. These openings 28 are preferably formed by punching from the interior surfaces of the top and bottom plates 23 and 24 so as to provide annular lips 29 about the openings on the exteriorsurfaces of the top and bottom plates 23 and 24.

The side plate 26 is made somewhat shorter than the opposite side plate 25 and the top and bottom plates 23 and 24 so as to form a side exit opening 30 in the end of the channel 22 opposite from the damper assembly 10. The adjacent end plate 31 of the housing 21 is covered with a thick layer 32 of acoustically pervious sound absorbing material such as glass wool.

The air leaving the channel 22 through the exit opening 30 passes into a manifold 33 having an inclined side wall 34 provided with one or more outlets 35 extending outwardly therefrom.

It has been found that a silencing section constructed in accordance with the invention as above described will eliminate most of the undesirable noise produced by a high pressure air distributing system, and will permit the materially raising the noise level thereof. efiicient operation, the silencing section A constructed in accordance with the invention does not offer high resistance to the flow of air therethrough and the pressure drop across the silencing section will be relatively small.

While it is not desired to limit the invention to any particular theory of operation, it may be helpful to explain that the passage of the air through the elongated channel 22 in contact on two sides thereof with sound absorbing material effectively dampens and absorbs many of the sound waves present in the air, particularly those in the lower frequency ranges. At the same time, the passage of the air along the perforated top and bottom plates 23 and 24 permits the release of sound waves and their reflection from the top and bottom of the housing 21, this distance varying progressively from end to end of the section with the result that many of the sound waves are reflected in such a way as to be self-destructive, this being particularly true with sound waves in the higher range of frequencies. The result, therefore, is that the silencing section will filter out and/or attenuate sound waves varying over the wide range of frequen ies encountered in air distribution systems operated under relatively high pressures.

The diffuser section B of the device of the present invention comprises an elongated distributing manifold 40 generally rectangular in cross section and extending longitudinally and coaxially of an outer housing 41. The manifold 43 is preferably connected at spaced intervals throughout its length with the outlets 35 of the manifold 33 of the silencing section A. in accordnace with the invention, the manifold 43 is provided with two slot type jets 42 and 43 extending throughout the length of the manifold, and so disposed as to release the air in flat streams at an acute angle relative to the axis of the housing 41.

The lower end 44 of the housing 41 adjacent the jets 42 and 43 is open and is adapted to be mounted flush with the ceiling or wall, denoted at 45, of the room into which the air is to be diffused. Arranged longitudinally of the open end 44 are a plurality of vanes 45 (shown five) which preferably are nagularly adjustable but which normally are disposed at an angle corresponding to that of the slot type jets 42 and 43. The longitudinal edges of the open lower end 44 are provided with baffles 47 and 48, respectively, defining a similar angularly directed passageway.

When the device of the present invention is placed in operation, the high pressure air released in fiat streams through the slot type jets 42 and 43, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, induces by Venturi action a flow of room air upwardly into the housing, this flow occurring principally at the righ-hand side of the housing as viewed in Fig. 2. Some of the air induced into the housing 41 beocmes immediately mixed with the adjacent jet of primary air released through the slot 43, while the remainder of the air passes upwardly within the space between the outer housing 41 and the distributing manifold 40 and returns downwardly on the opposite side to mix with the flow of air emanating from the slot 42. In this manner a very high percentage of room air is induced into the diffuser section and mixed with the primary air, and even though the primary air is introduced into the manifold at what normally would be an excessive temperature with respect to room air for conventional diffusing devices, the internal mixing of room air and primary air fully avoids a high temperature differential and expansion of the air when the same is released into the room. Accordingly, the throw of the air from the diffuser will be adequate to cover the spaces being conditioned because of a larger mass being involved and the drop of the air emanating from the diffuser section B will be kept at a minimum and well within acceptable standards In the modification shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the arrangement is essentially the same except that the diffuser section B is turned through an angle of 90 degrees relative to the silencing section A and an addi* tional opening 50 is provided in the lower wall of the housing 41. An arrangement of this type has been found to be desirable when the diffusing section B is utilized as a wall outlet, although not concealed within the wall. The action of the diffusing section B is essentially the same except that an additional flow of induced room air will be obtained through the inlet opening 50. In the event that the diffuser section B is to be concealed within the wall, the arrangement shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 probably would be utilized, with the slot type jets 42 and 43 and the vanes 46 inclined upwardly as shown in Fig. 5.

A silencing section A and diffusing section B, constructed in accordance with the invention, forms a compact, complete unit as shown in the drawings and as de scribed above. However, it is anticipated that the silencing section A may be utilized with other types of diffusers, if desired. Also, in the event that space availability or other factors interfere, it is not essential that the silencing section A shall be in immediate or close proximity to the diffuser section B, it being possible, if desired, to locate the silencing section A at a point in the distributing system remote from the diffuser section B.

An air silencing and diffusing unit constructed in accordance with the present invention and of relatively small size may be used successfully in air distributing systems employing relatively high pressures of 5" of water or more and at relatively high temperature differentials to obtain desired diffusing characteristics and without materially raising the noise level of the room into which the air is diffused. Accordingly, the unit has made it practical to employ high pressure air at increased temperature differentials in air conditioning and distributing systems with resulting great economies in ductwork and in installation costs generally. The unit of the present invention is simple and easy to fabricate and assemble, so that it may be provided at low cost, contains no moving parts which would be likely to deteriorate in use over long periods of time, and is economical yet rugged in construc tion and design.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim:

1. An air outlet device for silencing and diffusing high pressure air from an air duct comprising an elongated generally rectangular first housing, a pair of oppositely inclined plates extending longitudinally within the housing and forming an expanding air passageway therebetween, said plates being formed with a plurality of spaced apart small openings therethrough, a layer of sound absorbing material covering the surfaces of the passageway between the said two plates, means for admitting primary air to the passageway adjacent the smaller end thereof, means forming a laterally directed air outlet at the larger end of the passageway, a manifold extending longitudinally of the housing and communicating with said outlet, a second elongated and generally rectangular housing dis posed in side by side relationship with the first housing, a generally tubular elongated manifold within the second housing and spaced therefrom to form a circumferential air passageway therebetween, a plurality of conduits extending between said manifolds and spaced apart longitudinally of the manifolds, means forming a plurality of slot type jets extending longitudinally of the tubular manifold and means in the second housing forming an inlet for room air and a diffuser outlet for a mixture of primary air and room air adjacent said jets.

2. An air outlet device for silencing and diffusing high pressure air from an air duct comprising an elongated generally rectangular first housing, a pair of oppositely inclined plates extending longitudinally within the housing and forming an expanding air passageway therebetween, said plates being formed with a plurality of spaced apart small openings therethrough, a layer of sound absorbing material covering the surfaces of the passageway between the said two plates, means for admitting primary air to the passageway adjacent the smaller end thereof, means forming a laterally directed air outlet at the larger end of the passageway, a manifold of diminishing cross section extending longitudinally of the housing and communicating at its larger end with said outlet, a second elongated and generally rectangular housing disposed in side by side relationship with the first housing, a generally tubular elongated manifold within the second housing and spaced therefrom to form a circumferential air passageway therebetween, a plurality of conduits extending between said manifolds and spaced apart longitudinally of the manifolds, means forming a plurality of slot type jets extending longitudinally of the tubular manifold and grille means in the second housing forming an inlet for room air and a diffuser outlet for a mixture of primary air and room air adjacent said jets.

3. An air outlet device for silencing and diffusing high pressure air from an air duct comprising an elongated generally rectangular first housing, a pair of oppositely inclined plates extending longitudinally within the housing and forming an expanding air passageway therebetween, said plates being formed with a plurality of small spaced apart openings therethrough, a layer of sound absorbing material covering the surfaces of the passageway between the said two plates, means for admitting primary air to the passageway adjacent the smaller end thereof, means forming a laterally directed air outlet at the larger end of the passageway, a manifold extending longitudinally of the housing and communicating with said outlet, a second elongated and generally rectangular housing disposed in side by side relationship with the first housing, a generally tubular elongated manifold within the second housing and spaced therefrom to form a circumferential air passageway therebetween, a plurality of conduits extending between said manifolds and spaced apart longitudinally of the manifolds, means forming a plurality of slot type jets extending longitudinally of the tubular manifold and directed at an angle to the axis of the manifold and means in the second housing forming a diffuser outlet in alignment with said jets and an inlet for room air to one side of said jets.

4. An air outlet device for silencing and diffusing high pressure air from an air duct comprising an elongated generally rectangular first housing, a pair of oppositely inclined plates extending longitudinally within the housing andforming an expanding air passageway therebetween, said plates being formed with a plurality of spaced apart small openings therethrough, a layer of sound absorbing material covering the surfaces of the passageway between the said two plates, means for admitting air to the passageway adjacent the smaller end thereof including a damper, means forming a laterally directed air outlet at the larger end of the passageway, a manifold extending longitudinally of the housing and communicating at its larger end with said. outlet, a second elongated and generally rectangular housing disposed in side by side relationship with the first housing, a generally tubular elongated manifold within the second housing and spaced therefrom to form a circumferential air passageway therebetween, a plurality of conduits between said manifolds and spaced apart longitudinally of the manifolds, means forming a plurality of side by side slot type jets extending longitudinally of the tubular manifold, means in the second housing forming an opening adjacent said jets, and a plurality of longitudinally extending vanes in said opening, a group of said vanes being disposed in front of said jets to form air release passageways in the path of said jets and a second group of said vanes being disposed to one side of said jets 6 to provide room air passageways to said circumferential passageway at said one side of said jets.

5. An air outlet device for silencing and diffusing high pressure air from an air duct comprising an elongated generally rectangular first housing, a pair of oppositely inclined plates extending longitudinally within the housing and forming an expanding air passageway therebetween, said plates being formed with a plurality of spaced apart small openings therethrough, a layer of sound absorbing material covering the surfaces of the passageway between the said two plates, means for admitting air to the passageway adjacent the smaller end thereof, means including an end wall of said housing forming a laterally facing air outlet at the larger end of the passageway, a pad of sound absorbing material covering said end wall, a manifold extending longitudinally of the housing and communicating at its larger end with said outlet, a second elongated and generally rectangular housing disposed in side by side relationship with the first housing, a generally tubular elongated manifold within the second housing and spaced therefrom to form a circumferential air passageway therebetween, a plurality of conduits between said manifolds and spaced apart longitudinally of the manifolds, means forming a plurality of side by side slot type jets extending longitudinally of the tubular manifold and directed at an angle to the axis of the manifold, and means in the second housing forming air inlet and air diffusing opening adjacent said jets.

6. An air outlet device for silencing and diffusing high pressure air from an air duct comprising an elongated generally rectangular first housing, a pair of oppositely inclined plates extending longitudinally within the housing and forming an expanding air passageway therebetween, said plates being formed with a plurality of spaced apart small openings therethrough, a layer of sound absorbing material covering the surfaces of the passageway between the said two plates, means for admitting air to the passageway adjacent the smaller end thereof including a damper, means including an end wall of said housing forming a laterally directed air outlet at the larger end of the passageway, a pad of sound absorbing material covering said end wall, a manifold of diminishing cross section extending longitudinally of the housing and communicating at its larger end with said outlet, a second elongated and generally rectangular housing disposed in side by side relationship with the first housing, a generally tubular elongated manifold within the second housing and spaced therefrom to form a circumferential air passageway therebetween, a plurality of conduits between said manifolds and spaced apart longitudinally of the manifolds, means forming a pair of side by side slot type jets extending longitudinally of the tubular manifold and directed at an angle to the axis of the manifold, means in the second housing forming an opening adjacent said jets, and a plurality of longitudinally extending vanes in said opening, said vanes being disposed at an angle similar to the angle of said jets to form air release passageways in the path of said jets and similar air inlet passageways to said circumferential passageway at one side of said jets.

7. A sound attenuating and absorbing device for use in an air distribution system comprising an elongated housing, means forming an expanding air passageway longitudinally through the housing including a pair of oppositely inclined side walls, said walls being formed with a plurality of small sound releasing openings, and a layer of sound absorbing material on the surfaces of said passageway between said inclined side walls.

8. A sound attenuating and absorbing device for use in an air distribution system comprising an elognated generally rectangular housing, a pair of oppositely inclined plates extending longitudinally within the housing and forming an expanding air passageway therebetween, said plates being formed with a plurality of small sound releasing openings, and a layer of sound absorbing material covering the walls of the passageway between the two plates.

9. A sound attenuating and absorbing device for use in an air distribution system comprising an elongated generally rectangular housing having four side walls formed of sound reflective material, a pair of oppositely inclined plates extending longitudinally within the housing and forming an expanding air passageway therebetween, said plates being formed with a plurality of small openings of the order of /s" diameter, and a layer of sound absorbing material covering the walls of the passageway between the two plates.

10. A sound attenuating and absorbing device for use in an air distribution system comprising an elongated generally rectangular housing having four side walls formed of sheet metal, a pair of oppositely inclined plates extending longitudinally within the housing and forming an expanding air passageway therebetween, said plates being formed with a plurality of small sound releasing openings, a layer of sound absorbing material covering the walls of the passageway between the two plates, means for admitting air to the smaller end of said expanding air passageway, and means forming a right angle release passag way at the opposite end of the said air passageway and including an end wall of the housing provided with a covering of sound absorbing material thereon.

11. A sound attenuating and absorbing device for use in an air distribution system comprising an elongated generally rectangular housing, a pair of oppositely inclined plates extending longitudinally within the housing and forming an expanding air passageway therebetween, said plates being formed with a plurality of small sound releasing orifices, a layer of sound absorbing material covering the Walls of the passageway between the two plates, means forming a right angled release passageway at the large end of the said air passageway and including an end wall of the housing provided with a covering of sound absorbing material thereon, and a manifold extending longitudinally of the housing and in communication with said release passageway and having an outlet spaced from the passageway.

12. A sound attenuating and absorbing device for use in an air distribution system comprising an elongated generally rectangular housing, a pair of oppositely inclined plates extending longitudinally within the housing and forming an expandin air passageway therebetween, said plates being formed with a plurality of small sound releasing orifices, a layer of sound absorbing material covering the walls of the passageway between the two plates, means for admitting air to the smaller end of said expanding air passageway including a damper, and means forming a right angled release passageway at the opposite end of the said air passageway and including an end wall of the housing provided with a covering of sound absorbing material thereon.

13. In an air outlet device for receiving primary air under relatively high pressure and for releasing conditioned air into a room without undue noise comprising a pair of generally rectangular casings extending in side-byside relationship, means for admitting primary air under relatively high pressure to one end of the first casing, means forming a sound attenuating passageway from said one end to the other end of the first casing, a manifold of diminishing cross section extending between the casings with its larger end adjacent and communicating With said other end of the first casing, a tubular housing substantially coextensive with the second casing but of smaller cross section than the second casing and disposed within the second casing and space therefrom to form a peripheral air passageway therebetween, a plurality of lateral passageways between the manifold and the housing, a plurality of jet openings extending longitudinally of the housing, a plurality of vanes in the second casing forming air outlet passageways in registry with the jet openings, and a plurality of vanes in the second casing forming air inlet 8 passageways communicating with said peripheral air passageway,

14. An air diffusing unit comprising an elongated generally tubular housing formed with a plurality of side-byside jets extending longitudinally of the housing, a conduit for admitting primary air under pressure to the housing, an outer casing surrounding the housing but spaced therefrom to form a peripheral air passageway about the housing, and means defining a longitudinal opening in the outer casing provided with a plurality of vanes, a portion of said vanes being disposed in front of the jets to form air outlet passages in registry therewith and the remaining portion being disposed to one side of said jets to form air inlet passages out of registry therewith and communicating with said peripheral air passageway, whereby said jets will cause air to exit from said housing through those passages in registry therewith and air to enter through the passages disposed at said one side, a portion of the entering air being drawn about said housing before being mixed with the primary air.

15. An air diffusing unit comprising an elongated generally tubular housing, means for admitting primary air under pressure to the housing, an outer casing surrounding the housing but concentrically spaced therefrom to form a circumferential air passageway transversely about the housing, a diffuser outlet in the outer casing, a plurality of side-by-side slot type jets in said housing opposite said outlet and disposed at an acute angle thereto to discharge air toward said outlet at an acute angle thereto, and a plurality of vanes in said outlet disposed at an angle thereto and in general alignment with said jets to emit air from said diffusing unit and admit room air for mixture with said primary air.

16. An air diffusing unit comprising an elongated generally tubular housing, means for admitting primary air under pressure to the housing, an outer casing surroundin the housing but concentrically spaced therefrom to form a generally cylindrical air passageway extending circumferentially about the housing, means in the outer casing defining an elongated opening longitudinally thereof, a plurality of side-by-side slot type jets extending longitudinally of the housing opposite said opening, said jets being inclined relative to said opening defining means to discharge air from said housing at an acute angle relative to said opening, said opening being disposed so as to receive a stream of air from said slots along one side thereof and to admit air to said cylindrical air passageway along the other side thereof, and vanes in said opening inclined parallel with said jets for preventing turbulence between air admitted to and discharged from said housing.

17. An air diffusing unit comprising an elongated generally tubular housing, means for admitting primary air under pressure to the housing, an elongated outer casing having rectangular side walls surrounding the housing but radially spaced therefrom to form a circumferential air passageway about the housing, an outlet grille in one wall of the outer casing, a plurality of side-by-side slot type jets extending longitudinally of the housing opposite said grille and disposed at an acute angle to said one wall and in alignment with one side of said grille, vanes in said grille inclined parallel with said jets, and an inlet grille in a second wall of said outer casing for admitting air to said circumferential air passageway.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,303,210 Klein May 6, 1919 1,832,638 Kitchen Nov. 17, 1931 2,000,597 Keyes May 7, 1935 2,012,179 Ashley Aug. 20', 1935 2,088,576 Compo Aug. 3, 1937 2,144,466 Stikeleather a Jan. 17, 1939 2,150,530 Warsing Mar. 14, 1939 (Other references on following page) 9 UNITED STATES PATENTS Anderson Oct. 17, 1939 Parkinson et a1 Jan. 20, 1942 Norris Mar. 17, 1942 Chipley Sept. 7, 1943 Palmer Jan. 25, 1944 Keep Mar. 28, 1944 Dow Apr. 25, 1944 10 Demuth Apr. 10, 1945 Sewell et a1. June 8, 1948 Kurth Sept. 5, 1950 Honerkamp Nov. 28, 1950 Wallen Sept. 18, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Norway Dec. 5, 1930 

